Helena Joyce
Tires are a significant source of air, soil, and water pollution, affecting humans, wildlife, and other organisms. As tires wear, they release small pieces of synthetic plastic and toxic tire dust, which are washed off roads and into streams, eventually reaching the oceans. This tire wear contributes to microplastics pollution and has been linked to the decline of salmon populations. Tires also contain high levels of potential pollutants, such as zinc and chlorine, and their production and use generate heavy metals, plastics, and other toxic compounds. With 2 billion tires sold annually, and the market expected to grow, addressing tire pollution is crucial to mitigating its environmental and health impacts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of tires sold globally per year | 2 billion |
| Projected number of tires sold globally per year by 2030 | 3.4 billion |
| Percentage of natural rubber in tires | 19-20% |
| Percentage of synthetic rubber in tires | 24% |
| Amount of petroleum required per tire | 5 gallons |
| Composition of the rest of the tire | Steel, fillers, and heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc |
| Percentage of landfill-disposed tires per year in 2018 | 16% |
| Number of tires that become waste annually | 800 million |
| Tire particles emitted during use | Major component of microplastics in urban runoff |
| Toxic particles from tyre wear compared to exhausts as weight of cars increases | 2,000 times worse |
| Number of particles smaller than 23 nanometres produced by tires per kilometre driven | 1tn |
| Weight of particles produced by tires per kilometre driven | 36 milligrams |
| Weight of particles produced by exhausts per kilometre driven | 0.02 milligrams |
| Percentage of PM 2.5 constituted by brake and tire emissions in Anaheim, California | 30% |
| Percentage of PM 2.5 constituted by brake and tire emissions in Long Beach, California | 15% |
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What You'll Learn
Toxic chemical compounds
Tires are made from about 20% natural rubber and 24% synthetic rubber, which requires five gallons of petroleum per tire. The remaining ingredients include steel, fillers, and heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc, which are added to enhance performance and improve durability. While natural and synthetic rubber breaks down in the environment, synthetic fragments last much longer.
As tires wear down, they release small pieces of synthetic plastic, which are washed off roads and into streams, eventually reaching the oceans. Tires also emit fine particles during use, which contribute to air pollution. These particles are linked to heart and lung disease and contain a wide range of toxic organic compounds, including known carcinogens.
A specific chemical called 6PPD, added to tires to prevent cracking and degradation, has been linked to the deaths of salmon in the US. When exposed to ground-level ozone, 6PPD transforms into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone.
The increasing weight of cars, including heavier electric vehicles, puts more strain on tires, leading to increased particle pollution. Unlike tailpipe emissions, tire emissions are not regulated, allowing this form of pollution to continue unchecked.
Tire waste also contributes to environmental issues. Used tires require storage space, are energy-intensive to recycle, and have limited post-wear uses that are not also potential sources of pollutants.
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Air, water and soil pollution
Air Pollution:
Tires are a significant source of air pollution, emitting a toxic cocktail of chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals into the atmosphere. As tires wear down, they release fine particles into the air, contributing to particulate pollution, which has been linked to heart and lung disease. In addition, tires contain a chemical called 6PPD, which, when exposed to ground-level ozone, transforms into multiple other chemicals, including 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q). These chemicals have been linked to the decline of salmon populations in California. Furthermore, tires made from synthetic rubber off-gas aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene and naphthalene, which are toxic to humans even at low concentrations and contribute to the formation of ground-level smog, causing respiratory issues.
Water Pollution:
Tire emissions also contribute significantly to water pollution, as the chemicals and microplastics they release can leach into water bodies. The chemical 6PPD, used to prevent tire cracking and degradation, has been found to be particularly harmful to aquatic life, causing the death of spawning coho salmon on the West Coast when it rains. The tire industry is seeking alternatives to 6PPD and working to reduce or eliminate emissions from tires.
Soil Pollution:
Tire waste and its breakdown products can persist in the environment, with small pieces of rubber settling on the soil and releasing chemicals over time. Both natural and synthetic rubber in tires break down in the environment, with synthetic rubber fragments lasting significantly longer. Heavy metals and other toxic chemicals present in tires, such as copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc, can also contaminate the soil, posing risks to human health and the environment.
Overall, tires contribute to air, water, and soil pollution through the release of toxic chemicals, microplastics, and heavy metals during their use and disposal. Efforts are being made to redesign tires and mitigate their environmental impact, but more research is needed to fully understand the extent of tire pollution and its effects on human health and ecosystems.
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Microplastics in oceans
Car tyres are a significant source of microplastic pollution in oceans. As tyres wear down, they release tiny plastic polymers that often end up as pollutants in oceans and waterways. Tyre particles can be transported to the oceans through various pathways, including rivers, wind, and rainfall.
A 2017 study by Pieter Jan Kole at The Open University of The Netherlands estimated that tyres account for about 10% of overall microplastic waste in the world's oceans. However, a report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature in the same year put the figure at 28%. More recently, a 2020 report from the Pew Charitable Trust found that 78% of ocean microplastics come from synthetic tyre rubber. These toxic particles can be ingested by marine animals, leading to neurological issues, behavioural changes, and abnormal growth. They can also enter the food and water sources of humans, with unknown consequences for their health.
The problem of tyre microplastics in oceans is gaining increased attention from researchers and policymakers. Manufacturers are exploring alternative tyre compositions and methods to capture particulate output. For example, The Tyre Collective, a UK-based clean-tech start-up, has developed a device that attaches to each tyre and uses electrostatics and airflow to collect tyre dust. In terms of regulations, the EU's Euro 7 standards will regulate tyre and brake emissions from 2025, while the California EPA will require tyre manufacturers to find an alternative chemical to 6PPD by 2024.
While tyre microplastics are a global issue, certain regions are particularly affected. The Asia-Pacific region, for instance, is a hotspot for marine microplastic pollution due to its high population density and underdeveloped waste management infrastructure. China, with its large population and rapid economic growth, is another area of concern, with vehicle tyres contributing significantly to microplastic emissions in its coastal waters.
As the understanding of tyre microplastics in oceans evolves, efforts to address this issue are expected to intensify. While tyre manufacturers are working on more sustainable options, tighter regulations and innovative solutions will likely play a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of tyre microplastics in oceans.
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Deforestation
The production of tires contributes to deforestation in several ways. The manufacturing process requires vast amounts of natural resources, including fossil fuels, water, and agricultural space to grow natural rubber. This cultivation often leads to deforestation, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa, where most of the world's natural rubber is sourced. The high demand for tires contributes to the destruction of Asia's best remaining forests.
Tropical rubber trees, from which natural rubber is sourced, are mostly grown in Southeast Asia, where 90% of the world's natural rubber is produced. Since the 1970s, the region has lost hundreds of millions of acres of natural forest, with rubber plantations being a significant contributor. The cultivation of these trees for tire production has led to biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption.
The process of extracting raw materials for tire manufacturing, including natural rubber and synthetic materials, contributes significantly to deforestation and resource depletion. The vast amount of natural rubber required for tire production, approximately 7 million tons annually, drives the expansion of rubber plantations into natural forest areas. This expansion results in the clearing of land and the loss of vital habitats for numerous species.
Additionally, the manufacturing process itself consumes large quantities of synthetic materials derived from petroleum products, leading to ongoing resource depletion. The high energy consumption in tire facilities further contributes to fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.
To address these environmental concerns, some companies, such as Michelin, have adopted a zero-deforestation policy. They are working with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund to promote responsible natural rubber production and design deforestation-free, wildlife-friendly plantations. These initiatives aim to ensure that tire production does not contribute to the destruction of natural forests and negatively impact local ecosystems.
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Lack of regulation
While tyres are a significant contributor to pollution, the regulatory response has been inadequate. Tyres are made from a range of materials, including natural and synthetic rubber, steel, fillers, and heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc. The production and use of tyres generate multiple pollutants, including heavy metals, plastics, and toxic organic compounds. These pollutants are released into the environment through various routes, including whole tyres, tyre particles, and chemical compounds, and have been shown to have harmful effects on both human and environmental health.
Despite the well-documented environmental and health risks associated with tyre wear particles (TWPs), there is a notable lack of regulatory focus on addressing this issue. Existing regulations related to tyres primarily focus on chemicals, manufacturing, raw materials, road use, waste handling, safety, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different life cycle stages of a tyre. However, these regulations do not directly address the environmental impact of TWPs or the compounds that partition from tyres and disperse in the environment. This lack of direct regulatory attention on TWPs and their environmental impact is concerning, given the complexity and potential risks associated with tyre abrasion and the leaching of chemical compounds.
The absence of specific regulations on tyre wear rates and the limited oversight of the chemicals used in tyre production further contribute to the problem. While some tyre manufacturers have initiated their own studies and formed the Tire Industry Project to address tyre pollution, self-regulation may not be sufficient to address the complex and far-reaching environmental and health impacts of tyre pollutants. Moreover, the tyre hasn't seen a major redesign in decades, indicating a lack of industry initiative to address the issue.
The regulatory gap in TWP sustainability and the chemical constituents of tyres warrants immediate attention. A collective approach that transcends legislative areas is necessary to effectively manage the cradle-to-end-of-life impact of tyres. There is a pressing need for comprehensive clean-up solutions and further research to address the data gaps in understanding tyres as pollutants. Additionally, the development of better technology to capture tyre particle runoff from roads and the implementation of less abrasive road surfaces could help mitigate tyre pollution.
While some regions, such as California, have introduced groundbreaking legislation targeting the chemical composition of tyres, a more widespread regulatory response is required. The lack of regulation has allowed tyre emissions and pollutants to escape scrutiny, and the recent increase in tyre particle emissions underscores the urgency of the situation. With tyres contributing significantly to air, water, and soil pollution, effective regulations are essential to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of tyre pollutants.
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Frequently asked questions
Tires are made from a variety of materials, including natural and synthetic rubber, steel, fillers, and heavy metals like zinc and lead. As tires wear down, they release particles that contain toxic substances and contribute to air, water, and soil pollution. Tires are also difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills, further contributing to environmental issues.
Tires emit a range of toxic substances, including microplastics, heavy metals, and chemical compounds. A specific chemical called 6PPD, added to tires to prevent cracking and degradation, has been linked to the deaths of salmon in the US.
Tests have shown that tire wear can produce almost 2,000 times more particle pollution than modern car exhausts. Unlike tailpipe emissions, brake and tire emissions are currently not regulated, which means this source of pollution may continue to increase.
